Safety Glasses

Eye protection is required at virtually every shooting range and protects against real hazards — ejected brass, powder residue, primer fragments, and fragmented target material can all cause serious eye injury. ANSI Z87.1 rated safety glasses are the minimum standard for range use, providing impact resistance substantially beyond standard eyewear. Shooting glasses are purpose-designed for range use with features like lens tints optimized for target visibility, wrap-around frames that protect peripheral vision, and compatibility with hearing protection earmuffs.

Read our full Shooting Glasses Guide ↓

ANSI Z87.1: The Safety Standard

ANSI Z87.1 is the American National Standards Institute rating for impact-resistant safety eyewear — the minimum standard for range use. Z87.1 rated lenses withstand high-velocity projectile impacts that would shatter standard eyewear. Any shooting glasses or safety eyewear intended for range use should carry the Z87.1 marking. Many shooting glasses also carry the Z87+ rating (ballistic rated) indicating even higher impact resistance suitable for law enforcement and military use.

Lens Tints for Shooting

Clear lenses are the baseline — appropriate for indoor ranges and low-light conditions. Amber and yellow lenses enhance contrast and target definition in overcast or low-light outdoor conditions — the most popular choice for clay target shooting and general outdoor range use. Smoke and gray lenses reduce glare in bright sunlight without distorting color. Vermillion and rose lenses enhance orange clay target visibility against blue sky backgrounds. Most serious clay shooters own multiple lens tints and change based on conditions.

Fit and Compatibility

Shooting glasses should wrap around the face to protect peripheral vision from ejected brass — standard sunglasses with open sides leave the temple area exposed. Verify that your chosen shooting glasses are compatible with your earmuffs — some combinations create pressure points or prevent a proper earmuff seal. Slim temple arms on shooting glasses generally work better with over-ear hearing protection than thick temple arms.

Frequently Asked Questions: Shooting Glasses

Can I use regular sunglasses for shooting?
Not recommended — standard sunglasses are not impact-rated to ANSI Z87.1 standards and may shatter from ejected brass or primer fragments, potentially causing more injury than no glasses. Purpose-built shooting glasses with Z87.1 or Z87+ rating provide the impact resistance needed for range safety. Many shooting glasses are no more expensive than quality sunglasses.

Do I need prescription shooting glasses?
Shooters who wear prescription eyewear have two options: shooting glasses worn over prescription glasses (OTG — over the glasses designs), or prescription inserts in a frame-mounted carrier behind the shooting lens. Walker, Pyramex, and others produce OTG shooting glasses designed to fit over standard prescription frames.

What is the difference between Z87.1 and Z87+?
Z87.1 is the standard impact rating for safety eyewear — adequate for range use. Z87+ is a higher ballistic impact rating used by law enforcement and military. For civilian range use, Z87.1 is the appropriate standard. Z87+ provides additional peace of mind for high-intensity training environments.